Violinist Nicolas Orbovich, artistic director for the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival, highlights that “numbers” are key for defining a chamber concert experience.
“A one musician performance does not translate into the definition of a chamber music recital or concert,” said Orbovich, who founded the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival 23 years ago.
“By description, a chamber music concert must be at least two persons performing, yet no more than 12. Once you get to 13 or more, it’s a different concert experience. Our spring concert has six as a lucky number.”
Orbovich and the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival are presenting their annual free spring concert staged at 3 p.m. April 21 in the 250-seat First Presbyterian Church in Michigan City.
Musicians from the Lakeside Artist Guild are the concert highlight for the afternoon program titled The Grand Sextet.
“The musicians we’ve gathered are world-renowned artists who have worked and performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as well as the Northwest Indiana Symphony and Michigan City Messiah Orchestra,” Orbovich said.
“We’ve crafted the afternoon musical program to be an all-Russian repertoire and includes works by P.I. Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov, and of course, the rarely performed ‘Grand Sextet’ for piano and strings as envisioned by Mikhail.”
Orbovich said he credits cellist Patricia White of Hebron for helping assemble the ensemble group of musicians for this season’s spring concert.
“Patricia herself is a Juilliard graduate who also gives music lessons in addition to being the third seat cellist for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra,” Orbovich said.
“She was already connected with these other incredible musicians, and she inspired the idea to coordinate this concert opportunity.”
Orbovich said concert audiences understand the key difference of a chamber concert experience which must be presented as an acoustic performance.
“Much of the chamber concert energy comes not only from the performance and collaboration of the musicians but also how they are able to connect with the audience through everything ranging from eye contact to interaction,” Orbovich said.
“Of course, it’s far less formal, and the eye contact focus of the musicians is a communication with each other and the audience rather than locked on the movements of a concert conductor.”
Orbovich said the chamber concerts are able to be presented for free because of the underwriting by grants from South Shore Arts and the Indiana Arts Commission.
Orbovich reminded it’s a rare concert presentation when composer and “Father of Russian Music” Mikhail Glinka’s “Grand Sextet” is performed because of its complexity.
The piece was inspired by the composer’s own compromised health prior to his death in 1857. Classified as a “hypochondriac,” he created it in homage to the daughter of the physician who was caring for him at the time. Throughout his life, Glinka had a great fear of dying and battled a chronic eye condition.
“I think it’s incredible that this piece ‘Grand Sextet’ ever came to be,” Orbovich said.
“To have the chance to share it with our audiences is something extra special. And as is our custom, we will have a reception following the concert with refreshments and audience interaction for discussion with the musicians about the concert and the works presented.”
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for The Post-Tribune.
‘Grand Sextet’ Concert
When: 3 p.m. April 21
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 121 W. 9th St., Michigan City
Cost: Free
Information: 219-873-4560; mccmf.org
